Composite cleaning device

ABSTRACT

A composite cleaning device mainly includes a plurality of assembly bodies coupled in a pen-like manner. Each of the assembly bodies contains a cleaning element to perform a selected cleaning function. The cleaning elements may include a brush, a cleaner vial and a wiping cloth. The wiping cloth is located on the front end of the cleaning device. After the wiping cloth is removed, the cleaner vial can dispense a cleaner through a depressing mechanism. The brush can be slid outside the cleaning device through a sliding mechanism. Thereby the cleaning device can provide comprehensive cleaning functions and achieve desired cleaning effect.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cleaning device and particularly to acomposite cleaning device that couples a plurality of cleaning elements.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In response to the requirement of knowledge explosion and fast advanceof technologies, demands and dependence on information products such ascomputers increase constantly. The information products also are beingused more frequently. The surface or crevices of the informationproducts often collect dusts or dirt. Take the computer as an example,the screen, the keyboard and the mouse are often squalid caused by touchof user's hands. The surfaces of the computer and the main board andcrevices between the button keys of the keyboard often collect dust orother filthy matters and could result in abnormal operation. Hence theseinformation products have to be cleaned and maintained periodically toextend the life span.

To overcome the aforesaid problems, R.O.C patent publication No. 394395discloses a multifunctional computer brush which has a stem with asliding trough formed thereon. The sliding rough has an indented anchorarch to latch on a round bulged spot of a movable sleeve. Such a designcan adjust the movable sleeve to retract, hold or expand a brush toclear dusts on the surface and crevices of varying sizes. However, it isquite bulky and difficult to store. Moreover, the brush cannot bereplaced. In the event that the brush is damaged or becomes squalid, theentire computer brush has to be discarded.

Another R.O.C patent publication No. 392497 discloses a simple dustwiper which has a case with a plurality of small detent elements locatedon the bottom surface of the interior. A bottom plate is provided thathas a plurality of jutting inverse tenons or annular jutting inverselatch rings on the periphery thereof. The bottom plate may be mountedonto on a wiping cloth which has static charges. Then fold the edges ofthe wiping cloth on an upper layer of the bottom plate, and cover thecase on the bottom plate. Latch the tenons (or latch rings) on the smalldetent elements to couple the case and bottom plate together. Then itcan be used to wipe the surface of goods. While the wiping cloth withthe static charges can be replaced as desired, it also is quite bulkyand difficult to carry. Moreover, it can clean only the surface of arelatively large area. It is difficult to reach and clean smaller areas.The aforesaid devices can provide a single function to clear dusts orwipe surfaces. To do cleaning for the information products, multiple andvarying devices are needed. It is not convenient.

Moreover, the screen of electronic products tends to collect dusts dueto static charges. To avoid scraping and damaging the screen it ispreferable to use liquid (such as alcohol, water or the like) to aidcleaning. In addition, the screen also is often smeared by secretionsdue to touch of user's hands that are difficult to clear. Cleaning withthe aid of cleaners is more effective. Hence to clean the screen,besides to prepare wiping articles, an extra bottle of cleaner also hasto be procured. Such an approach has to allocate a wide variety ofwiping articles and takes more space.

The cleaning problems mentioned above not only happen to the computerscreen and the peripheral devices, they also occur to other smallproducts such as GPS, PDAs, handsets, digital cameras or lenses. Becauseof smaller sizes, cleaning for these articles is even more difficult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the aforesaid concerns, the present invention aims to providea composite cleaning device that couples a plurality of cleaningelements in one body to achieve comprehensive cleaning function anddesired cleaning effect. The composite cleaning device according to theinvention mainly includes a plurality of assembly bodies that arecoupled together. Each of the assembly bodies has a correspondingcleaning element to perform different functions. In an embodiment, thecleaning elements may be a brush, a cleaner vial and a wiping cloth. Thewiping cloth is located on the front end of the cleaning device. Thewiping cloth may be removed, and then a cleaner can be dispensed bysqueezing a depressing mechanism on the cleaning vial. The brush may beslid inwards and outwards of the cleaning device through a slidingmechanism.

The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features and advantages ofthe invention will be more readily apparent from the following detaileddescription, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the invention in a storing condition.

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are schematic views of embodiments of the invention invarious use conditions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please refer to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the composite cleaning device 1according to the invention includes a first assembly body 11, a brush12, a second assembly body 13, a cleaner vial 14, a third assembly body15, a wiping cloth 16 and a cap 17.

The brush 12 is held in the first assembly body 11 in a slidable manner,and has a plurality of bristles 121 on a tail end. By sliding the brush12, the bristles 121 can be exposed outside the first assembly body 11or held in the first assembly body 11. In an embodiment of theinvention, the first assembly body 11 has a longitudinal slot 111 on oneside. The slot 111 has a first retaining notch 112 and a secondretaining notch 113 extended from two ends in a horizontal manner. Thebrush 12 has a sliding button 122 on one side corresponding to the slot111 to be slid linearly in the slot 111. The sliding button 122 has aretaining lug 123 extended horizontally from two sides to be selectivelylatched on the first retaining notch 112 or the second retaining notch113.

The second assembly body 13 may be coupled with the first assembly body11 in a detachable manner. In an embodiment of the invention, the firstand second assembly bodies 11 and 13 are coupled by screwing. The secondassembly body 13 has a depressing element 131. The cleaner vial 14 isheld in the second assembly body 13 and can be removed and replaced. Inan embodiment of the invention, the cleaner vial 14 is inserted throughthe bottom of the second assembly body 13. After the first and secondassembly bodies 11 and 13 are screwed together, the cleaner vial 14 isrested on a flat top end 114 of the first assembly body 11. The cleanervial 14 has a nozzle 141 on the top end that is exposed outside the topend of the second assembly body 13. As the cleaner vial 14 isreplaceable, when the cleaner (not shown in the drawings, being a liquidsuch as water, alcohol, or the like) is depleted, the cleaner vial 14may be removed for replenishing the cleaner.

The third assembly body 15 is coupled with the second assembly body 13in a detachable manner to cover the nozzle 141 of the cleaner vial 14.In an embodiment of the invention, the second assembly body 13 has abutton hole 132 on one side close to the top end thereof. The thirdassembly body 15 has a pushbutton 151 on one side of a tail end thereofto be retained in the button hole 132 so that the second assembly body13 and the third assembly body 15 can be coupled together. The wipingcloth 16 is held on the top end of the third assembly body 15 by wedgingin a notch (not shown in the drawings) formed on the top end of thethird assembly body 15. Hence the wiping cloth 16 can be replaced easilyafter being used for a period of time.

The cap 17 covers a front end of the third assembly body 15 to encasethe wiping cloth 16. The cap 17 has a clip 171 on one side that has oneend connecting to the cap 17 and another end extended to the thirdassembly body 15 to be in contact with the pushbutton 151 to serve as areleasing mechanism to separate the third assembly body 15 and thesecond assembly body 13.

Refer to FIG. 4 for a use condition of the invention. The cap 17 isremoved to expose the wiping cloth 16 outside the cleaning device 1 todo wiping on a cleaning object as desired.

Refer to FIG. 5 for another use condition of the invention. Bydepressing the contact end of the clip 171 and pushbutton 151, thepushbutton 151 is freed from the confinement of the button hole 132 ofthe second assembly body 13, thus the third assembly body 15 and the cap17 can be separated from the second assembly body 13 to expose thenozzle 141 of the cleaner vial 14. By compressing the depressing element131, the cleaner held in the cleaner vial 14 can be squeezed anddispensed to the cleaning object. Then the third assembly body 15 may becoupled with the second assembly body 13 again, and the object where thecleaner has been dispensed may be scrubbed and cleaned through thewiping cloth 16. Of course, the cleaner may also be dispensed on thewiping cloth 16, then couple the third assembly body 15 with the secondassembly body 13, and scrub the cleaning object with the wiping cloth 16soaked with the cleaner.

Refer to FIG. 6 for yet another use condition of the invention. Bydepressing the sliding button 122 on the brush 12, the retaining lug 123is released from the latching of the first retaining notch 112 or thesecond retaining notch 113 so that the sliding button 122 can be movedlinearly in the slot 111, and the brush 12 can be moved as desired. Morespecifically, by depressing the sliding button 122, the retaining lug123 can be moved from the first retaining notch 112 to the secondretaining notch 113 to expose the bristles 121 outside the firstassembly body 11. Then the bristles 121 can be used to do cleaning onthe desired object. On the other hand, by depressing the sliding button122, the retaining lug 123 can also be moved from the second retainingnotch 113 to the first retaining notch 112. Then the bristles 121 can beheld and stored in the first assembly body 11.

In short, the invention couples a plurality of assembly bodies in apen-like structure. Each of the assemblies holds a cleaning element ofvarying function. Users can hold and store the cleaning elements easily.By coupling the cleaning elements in an integrated manner, it canprovide comprehensive cleaning functions. In addition, the compositecleaning device of the invention is not limited to cleaning computerscreen and the peripheral devices (such as keyboards, mouse and thelike). It also can be used on other small products such as GPS, PDAs,handsets, digital cameras, or lenses.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been set forth forthe purpose of disclosure, modifications of the disclosed embodiments ofthe invention as well as other embodiments thereof may occur to thoseskilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended tocover all embodiments which do not depart from the spirit and scope ofthe invention.

1. A composite cleaning device, comprising: a first assembly body; abrush which is slidably held in the first assembly body and has aplurality of bristles on a tail end thereof, the bristles being slidableto be exposed outside the first assembly body or stored in the firstassembly body; a second assembly body which is coupled with the firstassembly body in a detachable manner and has a depressing element; acleaner vial which is located in the second assembly body in a removablemanner and has a nozzle on a top end to be exposed outside the secondassembly body, the cleaner vial being compressible through thedepressing element to dispense a cleaner held in the cleaner vial; athird assembly body which is coupled with the second assembly body in adetachable manner and covers the nozzle of the cleaner vial; a wipingcloth located on a top end of the third assembly body; and a cap whichis coupled with the third assembly body and covers the wiping cloth. 2.The composite cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the first assemblybody has a longitudinal slot on one side, the slot having a firstretaining notch and a second retaining notch on two ends in a horizontalmanner, the brush having a sliding button corresponding to the slot andmovable linearly in the slot, the sliding button having a retaining lugextended horizontally from two sides to be selectively latched on thefirst retaining notch or the second retaining notch.
 3. The compositecleaning device of claim 1, wherein the second assembly body has abutton hole on one side close to the top end thereof, the third assemblybody having a pushbutton on one side of a tail end thereof to beretained in the button hole.
 4. The composite cleaning device of claim3, wherein the cap further has a clip which has one end connecting tothe cap and another end extended to the third assembly body in contactwith the pushbutton.